Washington, D.C. — New reporting from NBC reveals the troubling reality faced by American-born children deported alongside their undocumented parents, who now face significant legal and logistical obstacles to return home—even though they are U.S. citizens.
A Constitutional Crisis: Citizens Deported Without Due Process
Congressman Robert Garcia (D-CA) sharply criticized the Trump administration’s immigration practices, stating that deporting U.S. citizens—especially minors—is not only inhumane but unconstitutional.
“These kids were given no choice,” said Garcia. “They were essentially removed alongside their parents without proper documentation, legal guardianship arrangements, or any real process.” In some cases, children were undergoing medical treatment in the U.S. and are now denied life-saving care abroad.
Despite administration claims that “there are ways to bring them back,” Garcia says the reality is grim. Without passports, birth certificates, or American guardians able to retrieve them, these citizen-children are effectively stranded in foreign nations.
Homeland Security Secretary Stonewalls Congress Over “Doctored” Photo
During a House hearing on the Department of Homeland Security’s budget, Secretary Kristi Noem repeatedly refused to confirm whether a photo used by former President Trump to justify a deportation was doctored.
The photo in question falsely suggested that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported U.S. citizen, was affiliated with MS-13. Committee members—including Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)—pressed Noem on the image’s authenticity, but she deflected, saying she had “no knowledge” of it despite having seen the photo previously.
Garcia called her evasiveness “pathological stonewalling” and said her actions show she’s more concerned with appeasing Trump than upholding the law:
“She couldn’t answer a basic question. She has no business leading Homeland Security. What’s happening to children, citizens, and asylum seekers under her watch should alarm every American.”
Supreme Court Orders Return of Deported Citizen—but the Administration Defies It
In the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Supreme Court ruled 9–0 that he was unlawfully deported and should be returned. Yet, the Trump administration has continued to delay action, citing “state secrets” as a reason for withholding information from the courts and public.
“This isn’t about what Mr. Garcia did or didn’t do,” said Rep. Garcia. “It’s about obeying the U.S. Supreme Court. The president is ignoring the rule of law—and now it’s spreading. If you’re an American, and they don’t like your politics, your tattoo, or your background, you could be next.”
Reality TV Citizenship Show? “Sick and Un-American,” Says Garcia
In a final note of controversy, a producer recently pitched a reality TV show centered on U.S. citizenship. The proposal—reportedly sent to multiple administrations—claims it would feature no undocumented immigrants and no deportations.
But Rep. Garcia, himself a naturalized citizen, called the concept “sick and exploitative.”
“Becoming a U.S. citizen is a serious, emotional process. It’s not a game show. Immigrants like me love this country. Turning naturalization into a reality competition demeans that process—and our values.”
What’s Next?
As the legal battles continue and Trump-era immigration policies remain under fire, Democratic lawmakers are vowing oversight, accountability, and reform. But with families still separated, citizens stranded abroad, and Trump potentially defying court orders, the stakes have never been higher.
